Deacon Spotlight: Celia Quillian

Celia Quillian (2014, BA Theater and Communication)

Founder of Smart Work AI; Author of “AI for Life;” Associate Director of AI and Growth at Greenlight Financial Technology in Atlanta, Georgia

Tell us about your current job role/employer and what you’re currently working on. 

I recently transitioned into a new role at Greenlight Financial Technology as Associate Director of AI and Growth. My work focuses on AI enablement and delivering strategic initiatives tied to artificial intelligence across the organization. This role builds on my years in strategic product marketing and growth marketing in the tech space, as well as my passion for AI education. Currently, I am preparing for the release of my first book, AI for Life, in January 2025, published by Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. It is an accessible guide for anyone looking to use AI in their daily lives, careers, and beyond, and the culmination of my work with my educational TikTok and Instagram channel, @smartworkai.

What key personal and/or career experiences led you to where you are today?

If you had told me when I graduated from Wake Forest that I’d be working in “Artificial Intelligence” today, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. My career path has been anything but linear, but looking back, every step has built toward where I am now. At Wake Forest, I was a Theatre and Communication double major who loved performing and also developed a love for creating short promotional films for our Anthony Aston Players productions. I started developing a skill for video editing, and honed it along with my storytelling craft through film classes in my Communication major. After graduation, I acted in professional shows, produced and edited short films, freelanced in social media content creation, and even co-created a web series–including writing, fundraising, producing, directing, and editing it.

Eventually, I transitioned into jobs in marketing in the Atlanta tech startup world and that transition I think was helped greatly through my entrepreneurial tale of creating that web series, as startups often require that thrifty ‘the show must go on’ mentality, and marketing of course requires the ability to tell a story well and to know your audience. Wanting to expand my business education, I pursued an MBA at Emory Goizueta University in the evenings while still working full-time in product marketing. One class in particular I took focused on “sticky storytelling” and specifically content marketing on new social media channels like TikTok. That class reignited a creative spark I’d been missing, and planted the seed for what came next. I became deeply interested in creating my own TikTok channel as a creative outlet and to put those learnings in class into practice.

At some point in time before ChatGPT launched, I must have joined a waitlist for the tool–something I’m not sure I would have done had I not been in the Tech space. When it launched, I began experimenting with it and quickly saw its potential. And I knew what I wanted my TikTok channel to be about! I started @smartworkai to hold myself accountable to furthering my education around this new tool and to share with others what I was learning. What began as a creative outlet quickly gained traction. Within months, I was featured on the Today Show, and in TIME sharing how I used AI to plan a vacation. Since then, I’ve been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and more sharing more tips and insights on how AI can enhance everyday life.

Those media hits and my growing channels led to outreach from Adams about developing a book on AI for the everyday person seeking knowledge and productivity gains. And the education and knowledge of the ever-expanding AI tooling landscape has also enabled me to transition into my current role at Greenlight.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job? How do you navigate that challenge?

One of the most challenging aspects of my role and of @smartworkai is that when it comes to AI enablement, there is wide range of familiarity and expectations people have with these tools. I’ve found there are multiple segments of users: those that have never used the tools and distrust them entirely and outright resistant. Those that are open to using the tools but after trying them once, give up on trying further because their first attempt may not have resulted in as magical a result as they hoped for. Those who use them for basic tasks like rewriting emails or creating content but don’t realize their deeper capabilities that have been introduced since they first adopted the tools. And those that maximize the tools but may overlook their limitations, and use them as a way to totally outsource their work instead of improve their work and thinking. Navigating this spectrum means balancing education and expectation management, as well as a lot of active listening and subtle questioning. Many don’t want to admit what they don’t know. From there, I use clear examples to show what these tools can and can’t do, while emphasizing that their capabilities are constantly evolving.

What advice would you give to Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?

Balance and sorting your priorities out is super important. Do regular check-ins with yourself, whether through journaling or talking with a therapist or trusted friend. For me, family—both immediate and extended—and maintaining close friendships are top priorities. Mental health is equally important. My work and career are important, but only because I actually like what I’m doing, and I like it a lot because I can feel myself growing and continually learning.

Taking time to reflect on where you’ve been and where you’d like to go can lead to surprising and fulfilling opportunities. Having passions outside of work not only enriches your life but can also open doors you didn’t expect. If you can align what brings you happiness with what you do professionally, your work will feel far more energizing and fulfilling. I feel fortunate that much of my work reflects passions I discovered on my own time, which has made it exciting and rewarding rather than draining.

We know that relationships are important for any kind of development. How do you build and maintain your network?

I believe building and maintaining a strong network starts with being a reliable and kind person. If you consistently do what you say you’ll do, show up when you say you will, and take the time to get to know your colleagues as individuals, you’re already ahead of the game. People value working with someone who is both dependable and pleasant, and those qualities naturally build trust and goodwill.

Once you’ve established a foundation with the people you work with, don’t be afraid to expand your network. Platforms like LinkedIn are invaluable for connecting with others, discovering opportunities, and fostering introductions. If you can, grab a coffee in person with those you connect with, or if that’s not possible a zoom call is great. Focus on getting to know them and their path, or asking what they’ve learned. Early in my career, I had conversations with people who were willing to share their time and insights over coffee. While those chats didn’t always lead directly to a job, they helped shape my career path and opened doors later on. Often, those connections come back around in unexpected ways. ALWAYS send a thank you note or an email specifically mentioning an insight they shared.

LinkedIn for me is far and away the best for maintaining networks, though. Once you’re connected don’t shy away from sending them a message occasionally with an update on your life or congratulating them on an accomplishment they shared. Later in your career, if someone reaches out to you for advice or a conversation, take the time if you can—you never know where it might lead.

Tell us about your mentoring relationships. What impact have these relationships had on your career and life?

I’ve been fortunate to have mentors from all stages of my life—my theater and acting days, my time in the tech startup and marketing world, and even during the process of writing my book. These relationships have been incredibly impactful, not because of a structured routine or regular check-ins, but because of meaningful moments: a coffee conversation, a quick text, or a call when I needed guidance.

Many of my mentors have been far more senior in their careers—parents of friends, past professors, or leaders I’ve worked with. Others have been peers or colleagues who offered unique perspectives. What they’ve all provided is clarity. When things feel uncertain or I’m unsure of the right step, hearing their varied stories and experiences helps me see things from a new angle and make more informed decisions.

What I’ve found most rewarding is that mentorship is often a two-way street. There have been times when mentors I admire have turned to me for advice in areas where they don’t have as much expertise. It’s a reminder that everyone has something to offer, and the best mentoring relationships are built on mutual respect and a willingness to learn from one another.

These relationships have shaped my career, my confidence, and even my perspective on life. They’ve taught me the value of reaching out, listening, and sharing insights freely, which is something I try to pay forward whenever I can.

What advice would you give to current Wake Forest students and/or young alumni who are interested in working in your industry?

My advice for students today is this: artificial intelligence is going to transform how people work. It’s going to empower more people to become builders, creative problem solvers, and innovators. If you want to work in tech—a traditionally fast-paced and highly innovative field—one of the best things you can do is prove you can build something on your own. It doesn’t HAVE to be something tech-y either. I ‘built’ a web series, concept to completion.

Whether it’s creating a project, starting a club, or leading a volunteer initiative, showing that you can have a vision, bring it to life, and see it through is incredibly valuable. Think about what skills or interests you can apply now to create something meaningful and unique—something you’re proud to talk about on your resume or in an interview. Additionally, take advantage of the free tools and resources available to build your skill set today, especially if you’re interested in tech or marketing. Explore AI tools, experiment with coding platforms, or dive into content creation—whatever aligns with your goals.

Finally, lean into your liberal arts education. With the rise of AI, critical thinking and creative analysis are more important than ever. These tools often yield the best results when guided by thoughtful, human insight. Apply those skills in class and in your extracurriculars, and you’ll be better prepared to thrive in this evolving landscape.

What’s next for your career? What future goals or plans are you pursuing?

My future goal is to teach as many people as possible about the ethical, practical, and productive adoption of artificial intelligence. Everything in my career right now is pointing toward that mission, and it’s something I’m deeply passionate about. At the same time, I plan to continue embracing my love of marketing and finding creative ways to combine these interests. That said, who really knows? If you’d asked me 10 years ago what I’d be doing now, I never would have guessed this. So maybe in another 10 years, I’ll be a farmer on Mars. I’m more of a “journey” over “destination” type.

Story published in November 2024. For current updates on Celia’s career path, visit her LinkedIn profile.  You may also order her book “AI for Life” on the Simon & Schuster website.